UGC Letter On Violation Of SC Order: OPSC Stays Recruitment Process For Teachers In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) on Friday held up the process for recruitment of teachers until further order.

The OPSC’s move comes a day after the University Grants Commission (UGC) pulled it up for violating the Supreme Court order on the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act 2020.

The OPSC interview for appointment to the post of Assistant Professor (Physics) scheduled to begin from June 4 and  document verification for the post of Assistant Professor (Commerce) from June 6 have been put on hold. Besides, the Commission has reportedly decided not to announce the results of the examination for Assistant Professor (English) posts.

In separate letters to the OPSC and the Higher Education Department on Thursday, UGC secretary Rajnish Jain had objected to the Odisha government going ahead with the recruitment of Assistant Professors (Sociology) and Assistant Professors (Commerce) in violation of the apex court order.

The UGC cited notices issued by OPSC on May 23 and May 24 in connection with the recruitment of Assistant Professors (Sociology) and Assistant Professors (Commerce). It urged the state government to take note of the SC order and refrain from undertaking any further step for recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff.

While issuing stay order on the Odisha Universities (Amendment) Act 2020 for three months after hearing a petition filed against the Act by the UGC, the Supreme Court had sought a reply from the Odisha government within stay period and set the date for next hearing on the matter after two months.